National
Udenta urges Tinubu to mitigate more violent protests with critical economic changes
***Reduce food prices, inflation, make PMS affordable
***Reshuffle Cabinet to involve opposition figures
President Bola Tinubu should expect more hunger protests higher in intensity and range than the just concluded ones unless significant economic changes occur, such as reducing food prices and inflation the founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Professor Udenta O. Udenra has advised.
He gave the indication in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday that highlighted three critical national issues: the End-Hunger Protests, the overall State of the Nation, and Hon Yakubu Dogara’s controversial remarks that could incite violence.
He further adviced the president to reverse Naira depreciation and to make the prices of petroleum products to be within the reach of the people
Hereiterated the fact that widespread hunger and poverty are pervasive across Nigerian society, affecting nearly all but a small elite.
Udenra acknowledged that while President Bola Tinubu has recognized the people’s struggles, unless action is taken, social instability and mass mobilization will continue.
“President Bola Tinubu’s national broadest may not have met the expectations of large segments of society but give him credit for admitting that the people are hurting and he hears their cry, loud and clear. “But so long as they continue to cry with no end in sight expect social instability, mass mobilization, regime demonization and national fault lines tearing apart rapidly, no matter the forces that are deployed to contain them.
“As the saying goes, he or she who is already on the ground indeed fears no fall.”
He stated that peaceful protests are a constitutional right and essential for democracy, but organizers must ensure that their actions remain civil and non-violent.
He also addressed the notable absence of the Igbo community in the recent protests, suggesting that their historical experiences and fears of harsher treatment have led to their non-participation.
He called for dialogue to reintegrate the Igbo into national discussions about the country’s future.
Udenra concluded that without addressing the underlying political issues, economic solutions would be ineffective.
He posited that until the political framework improves, the economic challenges will persist, criticizing Tinubu’s government for its failure in this regard.
The current state of the nation is characterized by economic difficulties, widespread hunger, and high levels of poverty, attributed to the Bola Tinubu administration’s inability to effectively manage the political landscape.
He said, there is a noticeable lack of consensus among the political elite, leading to a weakened power base for Tinubu compared to his initial ascent to power.
“His attempts to implement policy reforms without engaging political elites are seen as a significant miscalculation, as these policies fail to gain traction without their support.
To rectify the situation, he suggested that President Tinubu convene a meeting with prominent political figures, including opposition from other parties, to foster cooperation and rebuild trust.
Additionally, he asked the President to consider restructuring his cabinet to include opposition members and establish a council focusing on civil society relations.
Implementing these recommendations, Udenta said, could help create a more cohesive political environment and enhance the effectiveness of governance in addressing the nation’s challenges.
He also recommended engaging with key civil society leaders to ensure their concerns are integrated into government policies.
The statement discussed the troubling language and divisive rhetoric employed by Hon Dogara, a former Speaker of the House, particularly in his remarks against Gov Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Undenta warned the political class about the implications of their words during a time of political division, stating that such language contributes to societal unrest.
He criticized Dogara for using offensive terms and for claiming that President Bola Tinubu influenced the judiciary to favor Gov Mohammed. This accusation is deemed reckless, especially in a fragile democracy.
He also expressed concern about the broader political climate in Nigeria, highlighting issues of misgovernance, poverty, insecurity, and a lack of trust in political leaders.
He called for genuine responsiveness from the government to the needs of the people and urged Nigerian Patriots to stay vigilant, emphasizing the need for constructive discourse rather than hate-filled rhetoric.
Young Nigerian writers have been urged to participate in the “Voices of Our Heritage” national writing competition, an initiative aimed at fostering creativity and cultural appreciation.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who made the call said the competition is open to students aged 10-18, adding that it is seeking to discover and nurture emerging literary talents.
The special adviser to the minister on Media quoted her to have indicated that the initiative is targedted at empowering young writers to create, publish, and even earn from their digital books, promoting both entrepreneurship and job opportunities.
“This competition is about preserving our cultural heritage while shaping the future of our nation,” she stated.
Organized as part of the 2024-25 National Young Authors Fair (NYAF), the competition welcomes entries from primary, secondary, and university students. Registration closes on February 20, 2025, with submissions open until March 20, 2025.
Winners will be announced on April 10, 2025, with the top 10 receiving ₦250,000 each, along with book publication, national recognition, and distribution.
The competition aligns with the Ministry’s vision to promote cultural heritage, creativity, and education through strategic partnerships.
For registration, visit: https://www.yaf.bribooks.com/ng/2024/student.
***As 306 Stakeholders Participate in Inaugural AI Awareness Day
Nigeria has taken a bold step in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution as key stakeholders gathered to explore the nation’s role in AI-driven education and policy development.
The National Coordinator of the 2025 AI Awareness Day, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, described the event as a major milestone, highlighting Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a leader in AI research, education, and application.
Held virtually on February 17, 2025, the inaugural AI Awareness Day in Higher Education was co-hosted by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Okebukola Science Foundation (OSF), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).
The event brought together 306 participants, including heads of regulatory agencies (NUC, NBTE, and NCCE), scholars from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, policymakers, educators, and AI practitioners.
Discussions focused on AI’s transformative role in higher education, best practices, and ethical AI deployment in Nigeria.
The event, chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, centered on raising awareness about AI’s role in higher education transformation, assessing Nigeria’s progress in AI education and its contribution to global AI research and celebrating achievements in AI research and education within Nigerian institutions.
Other areas of focus included exploring the integration of AI into university curricula, research, and administration and discussing AI-driven innovations to address national educational challenges.
The event featured a symposium, the launch of the AI in Higher Education in Africa Newsletter, and the presentation of the three-volume Handbook on AI and Quality Higher Education.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to recognise outstanding contributions in AI research, education, and policy within the Nigerian higher education system.
The first position in the Best Institutional AI Policy in Higher Education Award in the universities category was won by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Second and third positions were won by Lagos State University, Ojo and Federal University of Technology, Minna respectively.
In the polytechnics category, the first prize went to Living Spring College of Technology and Innovation, Osogbo. For the Best AI Researcher in the universities category, Prof. Olatunji Sunday Olusanya of Adekunle Ajasin University came first. Dr. Salau Ayodeji of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and Dr. Awotunde Joseph Bamidele of the University of Ilorin came second and third respectively.
For the polytechnics category, Mr. Mohammed Modiu of Yaba college of Technology came first. Mr. Salami Ayo of Federal College of Education, Iwo came first in the colleges of education category.
Other awards include the Best Programme in Artificial Intelligence. For the universities category, the B.Sc. Computer Science of Thomas Adewumi University came first. Programmes of four universities tied in the second position. These are B.Sc. Management Information Systems of Covenant University, Ota; B.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Computer Option) also of Covenant University, Ota; and B.Sc. Computer Science of the University of Benin.
The first position in the universities category for the Best AI Application for Enhancing Teaching and Learning went to Prof. Onyenwe Ikechukwu Ekene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Five scholars tied in the second position. These are Dr. Oguntosin Victoria of Covenant University; Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola of Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Busari Mutiu of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Professor Ibezim Nnenna of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the polytechnic category, first prize went to Dr. Okikiola Folasade of Yaba College of Technology.
For the colleges of education category, first prize was earned by Dr. Usman Stephen of Ipere College of Education Agyaragu, Nasarawa State, while Mr. Bako Mahmud Malam of Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere Bauchi State came second.
Other awards were presented for Best AI Programme and Best AI Application for Teaching and Learning across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Key resolutions include expanding the AI Awareness Day to all levels of the educational system; development of a strategic plan to ensure that Nigeria plays a leadership role in the global development of AI; strengthening the implementation of the AU strategic plan on AI; and forging strong public-private partnerships, investing boldly in our people and infrastructure.
Others are that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, other agencies of government and other stakeholders should involve the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) in policy making, implementation and other matters of Artificial Intelligence; and that within the 30% institutional allowance in the CCMAS, Nigerian universities should be encouraged to start GST courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in place of or in addition to the existing computer appreciation courses.
The successful launch of the AI Awareness Day marks a turning point in Nigeria’s AI journey, reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging AI for educational excellence, innovation, and national development.
National
Diplomatic Fallout: Ribadu’s Outburst Sparks Criticism Over Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Approach
A fresh controversy has emerged over Nigeria’s handling of diplomatic affairs, as former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, takes aim at National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu for his public condemnation of Canada’s visa denials to Nigerian military personnel.
Lamido, a seasoned politician and former foreign minister, expressed frustration over what he described as a pattern of missteps in Nigeria’s foreign policy under the current administration. He argued that the NSA’s public outburst against Canada was both unnecessary and damaging to the country’s international reputation.
“This is yet another example of our rookie approach to foreign relations,” Lamido stated. “Rather than resorting to public accusations, the appropriate response would have been for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Canadian High Commissioner and address the issue through official diplomatic channels.”
The ex-governor warned that Ribadu’s actions had not only failed to resolve the issue but had also drawn unnecessary public attention to an embarrassing situation. “Our foreign relations must be handled with tact and professionalism. The NSA should not be taking over the responsibilities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
This latest episode comes amid broader concerns over Nigeria’s international standing, following strained relations within ECOWAS and a series of diplomatic missteps on the global stage. Analysts now worry that such uncoordinated responses could weaken Nigeria’s position in international affairs.
With Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility on the line, calls are growing for a more disciplined and strategic approach to engaging with foreign nations—one that prioritizes diplomacy over public confrontations.
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